G1.9 0.3

25,000

SNR G1.9 0.3 is the youngest known supernova remnant in the Milky Way. The remnant was discovered by combining the data from the Chandra X-ray telescope NASA and the Very Large Array radio telescope. It is estimated that about 140 years ago, has reached the Earth's radiation from the starburst. For this starburst is the youngest known on Earth supernova remnant. Due to the distance of 25,000 light years, the explosion took place, however, about 25,000 years ago. Prior to this discovery was Cassiopeia A with an age of about 330 years, the youngest known supernova remnant.

Discovery

The approximately 25,000 light- years away from Earth remnant SNR G1.9 0.3 was discovered in 1985 for the first time as a strong radio source within our galaxy by astronomers with the VLA. In 2007, were made of the suspected supernova remnant with the Chandra X-ray telescope images and compared with those of 1985. The difference in size made ​​it the astronomers possible to determine the time of the supernova explosion ( 1868 nu Z., relative to earth time ). VLA observations in 2008 confirmed that SNR G1.9 0.3 at a speed of about 56 million kilometers per hour ( plenty of 5 percent of the speed of light) to expand.

At the time of the supernova explosion was not visually sighted by astronomers, because it is located near the center of our galaxy, and is obscured by interstellar dust. This see through, astronomers is possible only since the advent of radio astronomy and X-ray astronomy.

Announcement

The discovery was announced on 14 May 2008 on a NASA press conference. Before the announcement, NASA made ​​only hints that they would " the discovery of an object within our Galaxy announce, after which astronomers studied for more than 50 years. "